Newport Laundry aims for mid-July opening

NEWPORT- People may notice a lot of work around he old 420 Building in Newport. Fourth Street has been shut down for a new water line, and especially in the mornings, workers are taking things in and out of the steel building, which will be home to The Newport Laundry, the city’s newest Laundromat.

Newport has been without a Laundromat since 2019, when the old laundromat in Newport was torn down to make way for New Health.

The closest laundromat in in Priest River.

One of the three owners of the new laundromat, 2009 Cusick High School graduate Danny Pontius, says he plans to be open mid-July.

“That’s if the tariffs don’t get in the way,” he says. He doesn’t think they will but doesn’t know for sure. He plans to put 15 Maytag washers and 14 driers in the 3,000 square foot building. Most Maytag products are made in the U.S.

Pontius works as a property manager and realtor and says he noticed a need for a Laundromat, as many homes don’t have washers and driers. Permitting with the city has gone well, he says.

There is a need for a new, larger water line, but he will be able to use existing sewer lines.

The Laundromat will not include a dry-cleaning service. As are most Laundromats now, including the one in Priest River, it will be operated on cards, not quarters. People use paper money to charge their cards, which in turn will be used to operate the machines.

The closest Laundromat is in Priest River.